Ferrocene-containing cationic lipids: influence of redox state on cell transfection

A ferrocene-containing, redox-active cationic lipid that can be transformed using electrochemical methods yields large differences in cell transfection depending on the oxidation state of the lipid. Expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein and firefly luciferase occurs at very high levels when DNA lipoplexes are formulated using the lipid in the reduced state. In contrast, transfection is negligible when oxidized lipid is used. These observations suggest the basis of a general method that could be used to transform inactive lipoplex formulations to an active form through the application of externally applied electrical potentials. The ability to activate lipoplexes toward transfection electrochemically and "on demand" could create new opportunities to deliver DNA in vitro and in vivo with both spatial and temporal control.     

Influence of biological media on the structure and behavior of ferrocene-containing cationic lipid/DNA complexes used for DNA delivery

Biological media affect the physicochemical properties of cationic lipid-DNA complexes (lipoplexes) and can influence their ability to transfect cells. To develop new lipids for efficient DNA delivery, the influence of serum-containing media on the structures and properties of the resulting lipoplexes must be understood. To date, however, a clear and general picture of how serum-containing media influences the structures of lipoplexes has not been established. Some studies suggest that serum can disintegrate lipoplexes formed using certain types of cationic lipids, resulting in the inhibition of transfection. Other studies have demonstrated that lipoplexes formulated from other lipids are stable in the presence of serum and are able to transfect cells efficiently. In this article, we describe the influence of serum-containing media on lipoplexes formed using the redox-active cationic lipid bis(n-ferrocenylundecyl)dimethylammonium bromide (BFDMA). This lipoplex system promotes markedly decreased levels of transgene expression in COS-7 cells as serum concentrations are increased from 0 to 2, 5, 10, and 50% (v/v). To understand the cause of this decrease in transfection efficiency, we used cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) and measurements of zeta potential to characterize lipoplexes in cell culture media supplemented with 0, 2, 5, 10, and 50% serum. Cryo-TEM revealed that in serum-free media BFDMA lipoplexes form onionlike, multilamellar nanostructures. However, the presence of serum in the media caused disassociation of the intact multilamellar lipoplexes. At low serum concentrations (2 and 5%), DNA threads appeared to separate from the complex, leaving the nanostructure of the lipoplexes disrupted. At higher serum concentration (10%), disassociation increased and bundles of multilamellae were discharged from the main multilamellar complex. In contrast, lipoplexes characterized in serum-free aqueous salt (Li(2)SO(4)) medium and in OptiMEM cell culture medium (no serum) did not exhibit significant structural changes. The zeta potentials of lipoplexes in serum-free media (salt medium and cell culture medium) were similar (e.g., approximately -35 mV). Interestingly, the presence of serum caused the zeta potentials to become less negative (about -20 mV in OptiMEM and -10 mV in Li(2)SO(4)), even though serum contains negatively charged entities that have been demonstrated to lead to more negative zeta potentials in other lipoplex systems. The combined measurements of zeta potential and cryo-TEM are consistent with the proposition that DNA threads separate from the lipoplex in the presence of serum, resulting in a decrease in the net negative charge of the surface of the lipoplex.     

Characterization of the nanostructure of complexes formed by a redox-active cationic lipid and DNA

We report characterization of the nanostructures of complexes formed between the redox-active lipid bis(n-ferrocenylundecyl)dimethylammonium bromide (BFDMA) and DNA using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). A particular focus was directed to the influence of lipid oxidation state (where reduced BFDMA has a net charge of +1 and oxidized BFDMA has a charge of +3) on the nanostructures of the solution aggregates formed. Complexes were characterized over a range of charge ratios of reduced BFDMA to DNA (1.1:1, 2.75:1, and 4:1) in solutions of 1 mM Li2SO4. For these complexes, a single peak in the SANS data at 1.2 nm(-1) indicated that a nanostructure with a periodicity of 5.2 nm was present, similar to that observed with complexes of the classical lipids DODAB/DOPE and DNA (multilamellar spacing of 7.0 nm). The absence of additional Bragg peaks in all the SANS data indicated that the periodicity did not extend over large distances. Both inverse Fourier transform analysis and form factor fitting suggested formation of a multilamellar vesicle. These results were confirmed by cryo-TEM images in which multilamellar complexes with diameters between 50 and 150 nm were observed with no more than seven lamellae per aggregate. In contrast to complexes of reduced BFDMA and DNA, Bragg peaks were absent in SANS spectra of complexes formed by oxidized BFDMA and DNA at all charge ratios investigated. The low-q behavior of the SANS data obtained using oxidized BFDMA and DNA complexes suggested that large, loose aggregates were formed, consistent with complementary cryo-TEM images showing predominantly loose disordered aggregates. Some highly ordered spongelike and cubic phase nanostructures were also detected in cryo-TEM images. We conclude that control of BFDMA oxidation state can be used to manipulate the nanostructures of lipid-DNA complexes formed using BFDMA.     

Enhancement and stabilization of the photoluminescence from porous silicon prepared by Ag‐assisted electrochemical etching

In this paper, we present the results of studies on the photoluminescence (PL) of porous silicon (PSi) samples obtained by etching with the assistance of silver metal in different ways. If the Si sample, after being coated with a layer of silver nanoparticles, is electrochemically etched, its PL intensity becomes hundreds of times stronger than the PL intensity when it is chemically etched in the similar conditions. The difference in the PL intensities is explained partly by the anodic oxidation of silicon which occurs during the electrochemical etching process. The most obvious evidence that silicon had been oxidized anodically in the electrochemical etching process is the disappearance of the PSi layer and the appearance of the silicon oxide layer with mosaic structure when the anodization current density is large enough. The anodic oxidation has the effect of PSi surface passivation. Because of that, the PL of obtained PSi becomes stronger and more stable with time. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mechanism of anodic dissolution of copper in aqueous acidified solutions of different anions

The potentials of copper anodes were measured as a function of current density in aqueous acidified solutions of different anions. Tafel lines were obtained, whose slopes depend on the nature of the anion. This denoted the participation of the anion in the anodic dissolution of the metal. Hence, mechanisms were suggested based on the formation of intermediate cuprous compounds, which are further oxidized electrochemically, or undergo chemical disproportionation to cupric salts.The results in phosphate solutions indicated that the second electrochemical oxidation is the rate determining step. In chloride, nitrate and sulphate solutions, both the second electrochemical step and the disproportionation reaction govern the overall reaction rate.Measurements in acidified copper salt solutions showed that Cu²⁺ ions affect the reaction mechanism. Thus, in chloride and sulphate solutions, the disproportionation reaction becomes predominating, whereas in nitrate solutions the intermediate is mainly oxidized electrochemically. An interpretation is provided, based on the adsorption of Cu²⁺ ions.     

Nanostructure of complexes between cationic lipids and an oppositely charged polyelectrolyte

The morphology of aqueous solutions of polyelectrolytes and oppositely charged lipids is the subject of extensive colloid science research, because of their application in industry and medicine, the latter especially for gene therapy. In this work, we show that complexes of two different cationic lipids with the polyelectrolyte sodium poly(acrylic acid), PAA, share similar morphology with the complexes of those lipids with nucleic acids, implying a broader and universal packing phenomenon. We characterized by direct-imaging cryogenic-temperature transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta (ζ)-potential two cationic lipids, 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP) and bis(11-ferrocenylundecyl) dimethylammonium bromide (BFDMA), which are used in gene transfection, at equivalent lipid/polyelectrolyte charge ratio. Our results revealed that, for both types of complexes, onion-like multilamellar nanostructures formed, which exhibited similar morphology as in complexes of DNA or oligonucleotides (lipoplexes), based on the same lipids. Our findings suggest that the onion-like packing may be energetically favorable for a wide range of polyelectrolyte-liposome systems, from oligonucleotides and DNA to PAA.     

A novel multi-electrochromic polymer based on selenophene and benzotriazole via electrochemical and chemical polymerization

In this study, a novel donor-acceptor type monomer was designed based on selenophene and benzotriazole with a bulky pendant group and synthesized through Stille coupling reaction. The monomer was polymerized electrochemically by using cyclic voltammetry and also chemically by oxidation in the presence of FeCl₃. Both polymers were then compared in terms of their optical properties, electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical behaviors, kinetic and colorimetric properties and surface morphologies. Independent of the polymerization method, both electrochemically (E-PSeBTz) and chemically polymerized (C-PSeBTz) coatings showed quite similar properties. Both polymers have p-doping character and multichromic properties in their oxidized states. The polymers can be fully switched between their oxidized and neutral states in fairly short times with acceptable optical contrast at different wavelengths. Both polymers exhibit a λ_max of 505?nm and the optical band gaps of the materials were found to be 1.85?eV and 1.80?eV for E-PSeBTz and C-PSeBTz, respectively.     

Studies on thermal decomposition of electrochemically oxidized glass-like carbon

Glass-like carbon (GC) tiles were electrochemically oxidized in 1 mol·dm^?3 H₂SO₄ solution at a potential of 2.3 V/SCE. The surfaces of the oxidized samples were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The solid oxidation products were studied by derivatographic (TG, DTG and DTA) and elemental analyses. The solid products of electrochemical oxidation of GC, with the general formula C₈O_4.2H_2.3 were thermolabile and revealed properties similar to those of graphite oxide. They are hydrophylic and their thermal decomposition proceeds in three steps: (i) evaporation of-chemisorbed water (320–400 K), (ii) exothermic decomposition of graphite oxide (370–430 K), and (iii) gradual decomposition of the oxidation products (>430 K).     

Electrochemical oxidation of barbituric acids at low pH in the presence of chloride ion

Barbituric acid, 1-methylbarbituric acid and 1,3-dimethylbarbituric acid are electrochemically oxidized at the pyrolytic graphite electrode by way of a single voltammetric peak at pH 1 in the presence of chloride ion. At least four products are formed as a result of the reaction, the three major products, accounting for more than 80–90% of the oxidized barbituric acid, are the appropriately N-methylated 5,5′-dichlorohydurilic acids, 5,5-dichlorobarbituric acids and alloxans. The mechanism appears to proceed by an initial potential-controlling 1e/1H⁺ oxidation of the barbituric acids to give a barbituric acid radical. This can dimerize to hydurilic acid, which is then further electrochemically oxidized. However, this appears to be a minor route. The barbituric acid radical appears to be mainly further electrooxidized (1e) to a carbonium ion which further reacts with nucleophiles such as chloride ion to give 5-chlorobarbituric acid, or with water to give dialuric acid. Further electrochemical oxidation and chemical reactions of the latter species results in formation of the ultimate products.     

Electrochemical properties of capillary electrophoresis-nanoelectrospray mass spectrometry

Electrochemical properties are inherent to the techniques of electrophoresis and electrospray ionization. Interfacing capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with electrospray mass spectrometry (ESMS) can lead to the observation of oxidized species generated as a result of the electrochemical nature of this coupling. Using a nanoelectrospray (nES) interface combined with CZE, controlled chemical oxidation of peptides is demonstrated. The electrolysis of water is used to explain the origin of the chemically oxidized species and this is confirmed using experiments with ¹⁸O labeled water. Identification of the oxidized residues was possible using tandem mass spectrometry to sequence the modified peptides. Methionine was found to be the most readily oxidized residue, followed by aromatic amino acids. Surprisingly, oxidation of aliphatic residues (leucine) was also observed. Addition of a reducing agent to the CZE buffer was found to reduce, but not eliminate, the extent of oxidation. The electrochemical generation of protons at the electrosprayer was used to assist in the analysis of monophosphate nucleotides. Nucleotides were separated as anions followed by detection as [M + H]⁺ ions.     

Electrochemical enzymatic determinations of ethanol and -lactic acid with a carbon paste electrode modified chemically with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide

The oxidized form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) is chemically immobilized at the surface of a carbon paste electrode containing n-octaldehyde. The NAD⁺ is converted to NADH by oxidation of ethanol and -lactic acid catalyzed by their respective dehydrogenases, and the NADH formed is oxidized electrochemically to the original NAD⁺, thus giving a well defined linear-sweep voltammetric peak. The peak area is linearly related to the amount of ethanol or -lactic acid in the range 0.05–2 × 10^-9 mol.     

Fenton-type treatment: state of the art

The different currently used Fenton-type treatments, either chemically or electrochemically generated, are reviewed. A particular attention is devoted to the traditional Fe++/H2O2 chemical process and to the indirect electrochemical oxidation which uses in situ generated hydrogen peroxide. Mechanisms and experimental conditions employed for the optimisation of each technology are reported; moreover advantages and main limitations are discussed.     

Redox Mechanisms of Nodularin and Chemically Degraded Nodularin

The electrochemical behaviour of Nodularin (NOD), a hepatotoxic cyclic pentapeptide, was studied at a glassy carbon electrode. NOD electrochemical oxidation is an irreversible, pH‐independent process, involving the transfer of one electron. Upon incubation in different pH electrolytes, chemical degradation of NOD was electrochemically detected by the appearance of a new oxidation peak. The chemically degraded NOD (cdNOD), undergoes an irreversible, pH‐dependent oxidation, and its redox products are reversibly oxidised. The charge transfer properties of cdNOD as well as of its redox metabolites were investigated. Mechanisms for NOD oxidation, NOD chemical degradation and oxidation of cdNOD and its metabolites were proposed.     

Electrochemical enzymatic determinations of ethanol and l-lactic acid with a carbon paste electrode modified chemically with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide

The oxidized form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) is chemically immobilized at the surface of a carbon paste electrode containing n-octaldehyde. The NAD⁺ is converted to NADH by oxidation of ethanol and l-lactic acid catalyzed by their respective dehydrogenases, and the NADH formed is oxidized electrochemically to the original NAD⁺, thus giving a well defined linear-sweep voltammetric peak. The peak area is linearly related to the amount of ethanol or l-lactic acid in the range 0.05–2 × 10^-9 mol.     

Effects of solvent and electrolyte on the electrochromic behavior and degradation of chemically prepared polyaniline-poly(vinyl alcohol) composite films

Effects of solvent and electrolyte on the electrochromic behavior and degradation of polyaniline in nonaqueous aprotic media, as well as its electrochemical redox and degradation mechanisms, were investigated with chemically prepared polyaniline-poly (vinyl alcohol) composite films and polyaniline homogeneous films. Visible and FT-IR absorption spectra of the polyaniline films, oxidized electrochemically at various polarization potentials, showed that the mechanisms in aprotic media involved two successive oxidation processes. In contrast to aqueous systems, the higher oxidation process involved further anion insertion without deprotonation, and the degradation was due to partial formation of the electrochemically inactive quinonediimine structure at excessive polarization potentials. From investigations of solvent and electrolyte effects, it is suggested that the electrochromic behavior and degradation of polyaniline are influenced by the electron-donating and accepting ability of solvents, acceptor strength of electrolyte cations, and the nucleophilic character of electrolyte anions. It was also suggested that some anions like as well as protons, are constrained in the PVA matrix by specific electrostatic interactions and steric effects to improve the stability of polyaniline in the highly oxidized state. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Molecular switch based on a biologically important redox reaction

Building on our earlier report of a single-molecule probe, we show how biologically important redox centers, nicotinamide and quinone, incorporated into a fluorophore-spacer-receptor molecular structure, form redox active molecular switches, with the photoinduced electron-transfer behavior of each depending on the oxidation state of the receptor subunit. The switch based on nicotinamide (3/6) is strongly fluorescent in its oxidized state (Phi(F) approximately 1.0) but nonfluorescent in the reduced state (Phi(F) < 0.001) due to electron transfer from the reduced nicotinamide to the photoexcited fluorophore. The fluorescence can be reversibly switched off and on chemically by successive reduction with NaBH(3)CN and oxidation with tetrachlorobenzoquinone and switched electrochemically over 10 cycles without significant degradation. A similar switch based on quinonimine turned out to be nonfluorescent in both reduced and oxidized states: in addition to a similar quenching mechanism in the reduced state, quenching also occurs in the oxidized state, due to electron transfer from the fluorophore to the receptor. Ab initio quantum chemical calculations of orbital energy levels were used to corroborate these quenching mechanisms. Calculations predicted photoinduced electron transfer to be energetically favorable in all cases where quenching was observed and unfavorable in all cases where it was not. Application of the perylene analogue as a biosensor has also been demonstrated by coupling the switch to the catalytic pathway of yeast alcohol dehydrogenase, a common NADH/NAD(+)-utilizing enzyme.     

2,4-二氯苯酚的电化学氧化降解反应研究

采用循环伏安法和原位红外光谱技术研究了2,4-二氯苯酚在Pt电极上的电化学氧化降解反应,结合Fukui函数值预测了2,4-二氯苯酚在电化学氧化过程中的反应位点. 结果表明,Pt电极对2,4-二氯苯酚有良好的电催化活性,2,4-二氯苯酚在电极表面反应主要有3个途径：直接通过电化学反应脱去氯离子,生成苯酚;在·OH的进攻下,C—Cl键断裂,4位Cl较2位Cl先脱去,生成苯二酚,并可进一步氧化生成苯醌以及不饱和羧酸;在·OH的进攻下发生苯环开环反应,生成含氯不饱和羧酸. 在1700 mV左右,2,4-二氯苯酚可经电化学氧化生成CO₂.     

Pathway Dependence in Redox-Driven Metal–Organic Gels

Pathway dependence is common in self-assembly. Herein, the importance of pathway dependence for redox-driven gels is shown by constructing a Fe^II/Fe^III redox-based metal–organic gel system is shown. In situ oxidation of the Fe^II ions at different rates results in conversion of a Fe^II gel into a Fe^III organic gel, which controls the material properties, such as gel stiffness, gel strength, and an unusual swelling behaviour, is described. The rate of formation of Fe^III ions determines the extent of intermolecular interactions and so whether gelation or precipitation occurs.     

Electrochemical study of a nonheme Fe(ii) complex in the presence of dioxygen. Insights into the reductive activation of O2 at Fe(ii) centers

Recent efforts to model the reactivity of iron oxygenases have led to the generation of nonheme Fe^III(OOH) and Fe^IV(O) intermediates from Fe^II complexes and O₂ but using different cofactors. This diversity emphasizes the rich chemistry of nonheme Fe(ii) complexes with dioxygen. We report an original mechanistic study of the reaction of [(TPEN)Fe^II]²⁺ with O₂ carried out by cyclic voltammetry. From this Fe^II precursor, reaction intermediates such as [(TPEN)Fe^IV(O)]²⁺, [(TPEN)Fe^III(OOH)]²⁺ and [(TPEN)Fe^III(OO)]⁺ have been chemically generated in high yield, and characterized electrochemically. These electrochemical data have been used to analyse and perform simulation of the cyclic voltammograms of [(TPEN)Fe^II]²⁺ in the presence of O₂. Thus, several important mechanistic informations on this reaction have been obtained. An unfavourable chemical equilibrium between O₂ and the Fe^II complex occurs that leads to the Fe^III-peroxo complex upon reduction, similarly to heme enzymes such as P450. However, unlike in heme systems, further reduction of this latter intermediate does not result in O–O bond cleavage.     

Electrochemical oxidation and determination of high-molecular-weight sterically hindered phenols

The use of differential pulse voltammetry for the determination of Irganox 1010, a sterically hindered phenol used as an antioxidant, prompted an investigation of the electrochemical behavior of several other commercially available high-molecular-weight hindered phenols used as antioxidants and stabilizers. Although these compounds generally have at least two phenol groups per molecule, their electrochemical behavior is similar to that of simpler hindered phenols such as 2,4,6-tri-t-butylphenol. Detection limits ranging from 1.3 to 8.2 ppm were obtained in a methanol—0.07 M sulfuric acid medium. The oxidation of alkylphenols in neutral or acidic media is accompanied by follow-up chemical reactions, leading to formation of passivating films on the surface of the glassy carbon electrode. In alkaline media, the corresponding phenoxide is oxidized electrochemically to the corresponding stable phenoxy radical and filming can be avoided.